Should the San Diego Chargers trade up?

Feb 25, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys defensive back Justin Gilbert runs the 40 yard dash during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Hi guys,

in my weekly mock draft the Chargers were trading up with the Giants for J.Gilbert. If he does fall around the 12th spot, should the Chargers make that phone call and move up?

As we all know the Chargers need an elite corner, if they truly want one they will have to move up in the draft. Sure they could wait and hope that one of the top corners in the draft fall to them, but the odds are that we would probably end up with Jason Verrett or Bradley Roby. Verrett is really good but he is not a #1 corner and Roby has A LOT of red flags.

Tom Telseco showed last year that he is not afraid to trade up when he feels like the value is there. If Justin Gilbert makes it out of the top ten I think the Chargers should trade up to grab him. Why should we give up picks for him? Well the Chargers will try to make a Super Bowl run this year. Our offense will be Super Bowl ready with the addition of a wide receiver (round 3-5) and a guard (round 4-7) in the draft. But the defense will hold us back if we don’t have a much improved secondary. We need to stop messing around with average corners and draft a top CB in this draft. I feel like we are one corner away from being a very very good defense.

Why is Gilbert worth trading up? Well, we also need a Kick/Punt returner. and Gilbert would fill that role for us. He is drawing comparisons to Patrick Peterson for that reason. I know we would have to give up some picks for him but the good thing is that Gilbert would fill two roles. We won’t have to worry about finding a returner in the later rounds. That’s why he is the only corner I would trade up for in the draft.

Luckily for us the draft is very deep. So trading up will cost less than usual. To trade up with the Giants, for example, would probably cost us our first, second and a fourth round pick in 2015. If not a third round in 2015.

Gilbert is a guy that will bring some attitude to the defense. He is a natural interceptor (7t TDs in 2013) and a big time returner (6 career kickoff return TD). He possesses all the tools you would want for a top corner prospect : size (6’0” 202lbs), speed (4,37 40 yd dash), strength(20 bench reps) and he has superb feet and agility. Not only does he have all the measurables but he also has GREAT tapes.

He fits Pagano’s scheme perfectly. He would lock down opposite #1WR for years.

We need that if we want to think about a SB run!

What do you think ? Should we stay with the 25th pick or should we be aggressive and trade up?